Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 11/29/2009

Question
My 12 year old is having oral surgery this Wednesday, when I asked how my daughter would be sedated for the procedure the oral surgeon said he was using a cocktail of drugs containing propofol, versed, fentanyl, and some other drug starting with a C that I have never heard of. Is it necessary to use a cocktail of so many different drugs? This is the first time my daughter will be put under and I am extremely nervous by this surgeons method-is it common practice to use so many different drugs at the same time? Please help me understand. Thank you.
Lola  

Answer
Depending on what kind of procedure and in what kind of setting, this is OK and common. I am assuming he is doing this under deep sedation. The Versed is an anti-anxiety medicine and also an amnestic so your son won't remember the procedure. The Fentanyl is for pain and the propofol is for sedation. As long as he or his nurse is monitoring the patient and they have appropriate resuscitation equipment (in the RARE event of a problem) AND he is trained in the use of these meds, then there is no need to worry. I don't know what drug that starts with a C that you are referring to (unless it is Compazine) and that is for nausea.

Ronald Levy, MD
PRofessor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston